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Glite Dictionary
costoaxillary vein

costoaxillary vein

9.5
A small vein in the chest that connects veins between the ribs to a vein near the armpit
  • noun
  • /ˌkɒstoʊˈæksɪˌlɛri veɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : vena costoaxilar
  • The surgeon identified the costoaxillary vein during the dissection to prevent accidental injury.

Examples

  • Rare variants of the costoaxillary vein may be encountered in patients undergoing chest wall surgery.

  • Knowledge of the costoaxillary vein is important for radiologists interpreting thoracic imaging studies.

  • The costoaxillary vein plays a crucial role in venous drainage.

  • Surgeons need to identify the costoaxillary veins during procedures.

  • The costoaxillary vein connects the intercostal veins with the lateral thoracic vein, aiding in venous drainage.

  • Understanding the anatomy of the costoaxillary vein is essential for effective surgical planning in thoracic operations.

  • During the surgery, the costoaxillary vein was carefully preserved to ensure proper blood flow.

Surface Forms

costoaxillary vein singular
costoaxillary veins plural

Morphology

costoaxillary + vein

While 'vein' is a common, transparent word, 'costoaxillary' is a specialized medical combining form (costo- + axillary) not listed in general dictionaries and not accessible to an average B1 learner. Because the key constituent is technical and bound rather than a standalone everyday word, the overall anatomical meaning cannot be reliably derived by learners, making the MWE opaque.

Etymology

Costoaxillary vein comes from two parts: costo- meaning 'rib' and axillary meaning 'armpit'. It is a small vein that runs from the veins between the ribs toward the armpit, so the name shows that it connects those areas.